Videos

UTMB child psychologists Dr. Claire Kirk and Dr. Cody Dodd spoke with Houston Moms Meagan Callahan about how to help children navigate traumatic events and disasters. They shared expert advice on fostering resilience, having age-appropriate conversations, and recognizing when it's time to seek professional support.

To learn more, watch the full discussion.

Dr. Kirk is a licensed clinical psychologist and assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UTMB. She engages in clinical work, research, teaching, and training, with the aim of advancing the field of clinical psychology, particularly as it relates to childhood trauma. She is also dedicated to improving access to mental health care for vulnerable and underserved youth.

Summer brings long days, new adventures, and unexpected risks for young children. Did you know that most unintentional ingestions happen in just a moment, often when a caregiver steps away for just a second? These accidents can happen fast, but the good news is, many are preventable.

 

Here are five expert tips to help keep your child safe this summer:

1. Store Safely: Keep medications, vitamins, and cleaning products up high and locked away—out of sight and out of reach.

2. Keep Original Containers: Never transfer dangerous liquids like bleach or detergent into drink bottles or food containers. Original packaging helps prevent confusion and contains safety information.

3. Beware of Lookalikes: Colorful detergent pods and gummy vitamins can look like candy to young children. Store them securely and talk to kids about not eating anything unless it’s given by an adult.

4. Stay Alert When Traveling: When visiting friends or family, scan the environment. Grandparents’ nightstands or open purses may contain medications or items that pose a risk to curious kids.

5. Know What to Do: If your child swallows something they shouldn't, don’t wait—call the Poison Control Center immediately at 1-800-222-1222. They’re available 24/7 to help.

With a few simple precautions, you can prevent many of the most common summertime ingestion accidents. Stay safe, stay aware—and enjoy a healthy summer with your family.

Summer in Texas brings soaring temperatures, outdoor fun—and the need for extra hydration, especially for kids. But what if your child isn’t a fan of drinking water? Fortunately, there are easy and creative ways to help keep your little ones hydrated all summer long. 

1. Make Water Fun and Accessible: Sometimes, it’s all about presentation. Let your child pick out a fun new water bottle—one they’ll want to drink from. Add some excitement by freezing fresh fruit into ice cubes or making homemade popsicles with ingredients like coconut water and berries.
2. Add Hydrating Fruits and Veggies: Foods like watermelon, oranges, cucumbers, and lemons pack a hydration punch. Incorporate these into snacks or infuse them into water for added flavor and appeal.
3. Be a Role Model: Kids mimic what they see. Drinking water regularly in front of your child makes it more likely they’ll follow suit. Set the example by keeping your own water bottle handy and taking regular sips throughout the day.
4. Limit Sugary Drinks: Juice, soda, sweet tea, and even lemonade might seem refreshing, but they can contribute to dehydration. Limiting these beverages supports better hydration and overall health.

Proper hydration supports your child’s energy, mood, and physical well-being. By building these simple habits into your family’s routine, you’ll help ensure your kids stay healthy and refreshed all summer long.

For more information on children's health and wellness measures --including care options -- visit the UTMB Health Pediatrics page.

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, UTMB Health's Dr. Kim Gushanas sat down with Houston Moms for a heartfelt discussion about grief, mourning and how to speak about death of loved ones to your children. 

To learn more, watch the full discussion.

 

 

UTMB Health's Dr. Melissa DeFilippis, psychiatrist and director of the Child and Adolescent Psychology Division, sat down with Houston Moms host Meagan Clanahan for an in-depth discussion about what it means to have autism, recognizing signs that your child may have autism, available treatments, and how you can find support as a parent of a child with autism.

To learn more, watch the full discussion.

 

Dr. DeFilippis serves as the Director of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Division, as well as directs and supervises the Developmental Disorders clinic, assessing and treating patients with neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorders. 

On March 10, the University of Texas Medical Branch Pediatric and Adult Primary Care Clinic in Friendswood will open its doors at a new location at 1715 S. Friendswood Dr., Friendswood.

Although this new space will be less than a half mile away from the current location, what patients will find in the new building will be quite different.

“We're expanding to not only have Primary Care, Pediatrics and Psychiatry, as we currently do, but to also include Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Neurology and Orthopedics specialties as well,” said Stephenie Pharr, director of Ambulatory Operations at UTMB. “We're also increasing the access for existing imaging services such as X-rays and ultrasounds.”

In addition to these changes, the new clinic also include an on-site pharmacy so that patients can walk out potentially the same day as their appointments with the treatments they need.

In the community for more than two decades, the care teams within the current clinic have watched the area they serve grow, so they're excited to be increasing the services available to this population.

“I'm so excited about the changes coming for this community,” said Dr. Carolyn “Becky” Risinger, UTMB physician, clinical associate professor and medical director for the clinic. “Having more service options also means added expertise as we enhance our multidisciplinary team approach. We're already a strong unit from the doctors and nurses you see to the medical assistants and patient service specialists on board, we all work together to provide the best possible care to every patient every time.”

For clinic-specific questions, contact the team on site directly at (281) 482-5695.

Dr. Carolyn "Becky" Risinger is a physician, clinical associate professor and the medical director of the new clinic.

Dr. Esosa Odigie-Okon, professor and provider with the Department of Cardiology, joined the latest segment of Houston Moms to discuss with host Meagan Clanahan all things women's heart health.

From signs and symptoms, to how to ask for help and advocate for yourself, Dr. Okon covers it all. 

To learn more, watch the full discussion.

Dr. Esosa Odigie-Okon is an advanced cardiac imaging cardiologist who is passionate about leveraging imaging technologies to enhance patient outcomes.

UTMB Health Heart Health

Souby George, a nurse clinician V with the UTMB Health Mother-Baby Unit in John Sealy Hospital in Galveston joined the latest segment with Houston Moms to discuss with host Meagan Clanahan the ins and outs of perinatal mood and anxiety disorder, frequently known as PMAD.

From signs and symptoms, to how to ask for help and even available resources at the local, national and international levels, Souby covers it all. 

To learn more, watch the full discussion.